Silver regrets saying Browns lied, stands by report Manziel was drunk

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 9, 2016, 3:18 PM EDT

AP

After reporting on the air that the Browns lied about Johnny Manziel having a concussion to cover up Manziel’s drinking, NFL Network reporter Mike Silver has backed off. But only backed off half of the report.

Silver wrote on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon that he regrets saying that the Browns lied about Manziel having a concussion. But Silver still says Manziel was drunk when he reported to work on the Wednesday of Week 17.

“I’ve been told by multiple sources that Manziel showed up late to the team facility for a meeting & noticeably drunk on Wednesday, Dec. 30,” Silver wrote today. “He was later placed in the concussion protocol & sent home. I am not a doctor & thus cannot presume to question the diagnosis of an independent neurologist or any medical professional. I do not have direct knowledge of what Manziel may have told the doctor or doctors who evaluated him, or what might have been suggested. If the Browns say they did not lie about Manziel’s diagnosis, I will take them at their word, and I regret using that term (‘lied’). I stand by my original report that Manziel showed up drunk at practice & that witnesses believed this was the cause of his ‘behavior’.”

In his original on-air report, Silver was emphatic that the Browns lied about Manziel’s concussion diagnosis. It’s not a leap to wonder if the Browns, who own a 1/32nd share of NFL Network, may have suggested to Silver’s bosses that they were not too pleased with that report, and that may have led to Silver backing off.

Alcohol inebriation and concussions share many symptoms, in particular those that are tested through the concussion protocol. It’s entirely plausible that Manziel could have reported to practice drunk and been pulled aside by the independent neurologist to be evaluated (who would almost certainly have concluded Manziel was concussed, because that’s what he’s looking for).

So what we can learn here is that anything coming from the NFL Network has been filtered through the 32 teams PR teams. I think we already knew that, but this is fairly blatant. Will Silver now disappear into a black hole ala ESPN’s Kelly Naqi?

It is easily possible he was concussed and drunk, they often go hand in hand. As an EMT working my way through college saw plenty of head trauma on DFO (drunk fall over) calls.

If he was both, the Browns may have missed an opportunity to force the issue as far as getting him some help goes. Not that it probably would have mattered, you can save folks from almost anything but themselves. At the end of the day only Johnny can get Johnny any real help.

Tuesday night of the Kansas city week I was at a Christmas party at a popular shopping area with bars and restaurants about 3 miles from manziels house. He was at a bar after midnight doing shots then left about 12:15 with a group of girls and one guy. I presume the party continued. The only reason I say this is because the NFL week really starts on Wednesday where the put in game plan and its meetings and practices. Usually if a guy can’t practice Wednesday he’s out for the game. And here was manziel drinking vodka red bulls at 12am with a table of groupies, just hours before the meetings start

“The Browns lied and said he was in the concussion protocol. Let me repeat that: The Browns lied, to try to protect, and I would argue enable, this irresponsible and very troubled young man” -Michael Silver

Silver literally went out of his way to make sure everyone understood that he was using the word “lied.”

“It’s not a leap to wonder if the Browns, who own a 1/32nd share of NFL Network, may have suggested to Silver’s bosses that they were not too pleased with that report, and that may have led to Silver backing off.”

It’s also not a leap to wonder if Silver may have jumped to the conclusion that the Browns knew Johnny was drunk at work without basis beyond his 1 + 1 must = 3 mentality, and that once confronted with the fact that Manziel was evaluated by an independent neurologist (which I believe are appointed by the NFL), perhaps he should line up his “facts” before accusing a franchise of lying. But then again, I guess he got his name discussed on the web and in the news…and after all, isn’t that what it’s all really about? Don’t worry about details or facts…just pump the story out there to get everyone buzzing! (no pun intended)

Ummm… Why would they lie about it when they could just suspend him for being drunk and save a games salary? This dudes problem go far and beyond. Everyone thinks his girlfriend is the nut job, perhaps Johnny Kindergarten is the nut job. I believe every word about what he has done. If you go to a casino in Vegas and wear a wig so you don’t get busted then you have some real problems! 🤔

“Alcohol inebriation and concussions share many symptoms, in particular those that are tested through the concussion protocol.”
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I agree with this in general but this was a very specific case.
1) Concussions don’t share ALL the symptoms of being drunk. Johnny was together enough to avoid people smelling it on his breath? None of his teammates knew he’d been hitting it hard the night before?
2) Given all his past issues you’d think the Browns would have been keeping a pretty good eye on him and would have had suspicions rather than just assuming he had a concussion that didn’t manifest itself until two full days after the game. If their medical staff doesn’t have a breathalyzer I would be rather surprised. And if they do, why wouldn’t they have used it if there were any doubts?

The media gets things wrong often anyway. They have limited access but act like they know everything that’s going on in a locker room. Disgruntled football players continue to be the leaks and the media thinks that those guys have credibility. Very strange.

Translation: The organization that provides Silver with his income told him to cut it out. Go question this guy on Twitter about who signs his paychecks and how that might impact his ethics. It’s a riot!

I don’t believe it. That’s all. Pettine already showed he had no problems with giving Manziel the hammer. I’m on the this is a false report used by somebody who saw he could used situation that could sound believable due to off the field incidents to gain some hits and attention.

The Browns haven’t disputed that, not has Silver issued a retraction on THAT.

You can play with the words “lied to the NFL”, but as long as the Browns aren’t denying Manziel showed up to work drunk, the whole “he’s got a concussion” angle is still very obviously a LIE, and we don’t need Michael Silver to tell us that.

The Browns did NOT go public with Manziel showing up to work drunk, and in that sense, they very much DID lie.

Lmao silver talking out of both sides of his mouth. I tegret saying the Browns lied, but Manziel was drunk. Huh? Sounds exactly you are saying the Browns are lieing.

I know the Browns lied about this for a fact. Johnny was supposed to address the media in a few hours that day, then Mike Pettine, compulsive liar, that will never coach in the NFL ever again, all of the sudden says Johnny has a concussion.
The Browns have lied since Day 1 about this.

Alcohol inebriation and concussions share many symptoms, in particular those that are tested through the concussion protocol. It’s entirely plausible that Manziel could have reported to practice drunk and been pulled aside by the independent neurologist to be evaluated (who would almost certainly have concluded Manziel was concussed, because that’s what he’s looking for).

If that’s the case, I sure wouldn’t want that doctor examining me. Do you really think a doctor couldn’t tell if someone was drunk?

Why are all the Browns jumping on Silver and shooting the messenger? Are you that much of a blind hard core fan that you can’t handle the any criticism about your management? Frankly, you Browns fans deserve much better.

It’s not that much of a leap to draw the conclusion that there was something VERY fishy about the timing of the video, investigation, showing up to work drunk, and the sudden “concussion”.

“It’s not a leap to wonder if the Browns, who own a 1/32nd share of NFL Network, may have suggested to Silver’s bosses that they were not too pleased with that report, and that may have led to Silver backing off.”

It’s also not a leap to wonder if Silver may have jumped to the conclusion that the Browns knew Johnny was drunk at work without basis beyond his 1 + 1 must = 3 mentality, and that once confronted with the fact that Manziel was evaluated by an independent neurologist (which I believe are appointed by the NFL), perhaps he should line up his “facts” before accusing a franchise of lying. But then again, I guess he got his name discussed on the web and in the news…and after all, isn’t that what it’s all really about? Don’t worry about details or facts…just pump the story out there to get everyone buzzing! (no pun intended)

Exactly!!!! Next thing you know someone will report that Bradshaw has died! Reporting without facts. Imagine that.

Maybe he did show up drunk, it was noticed by the staff, and he tried to hide it saying that he got hit in the head and pretending to have a concussion. Given the current safety rules, and the fact that they really didn’t care if he played anyway, it would make sense for them to put him in the concussion protocol based solely on the fact that a) any team who failed to put a player in the concussion protocol after he said he had a concussion would be raked across the coals if that ever came out, regardless of the circumstances, and B) as I mentioned, it keeps him out of practices / games which is what the team wanted anyway.

That would seem like completely reasonable actions taken by the team, and it would also fit in line with what Silver is reporting, which is that Manziel did show up drunk, ended up in the concussion protocol, but the team didn’t lie about him having a concussion (they just didn’t fight against him when he claimed he did).

Silver may – or may not – be a sleazeball, but at least he isn’t a drunk punk who may – or may not – be worth saving. Let his enabling mommy and daddy take care of him. Frankly, I’m sick of reading about this immature brat who may – or may not – have NFL talent. Just one fan’s opinion.

So someone finally explained to Silver that being drunk doesn’t make you immune to concussions and sometimes even causes them if the person is drunk enough to fall over? IE he could have (and probably was) both drunk and concussed.

Or the NFL explained to him that they’re the ones who provide the doctors that diagnose that so he is accusing his employers of wrong doing.

Hey Browns fans — you have to be stupid to keep spending money to watch this team. Let’s face facts. This isn’t even the real Browns team — they’re in Baltimore!!
You deserve better, Browns fans! You have always been loyal to your football team, even though they were rarely even competitive since the days of Jim Brown.
So — you should be outraged that this current Browns team is so ineptly run.
Before your dopey GM ever drafted the little twerp, who didn’t know that Johnny Manziel was a head case and a drunk? The answer is everybody knew it.
And what did they see that made them think he would be a good NFL QB? He’s Doug Flutie with less talent!!
If they don’t cut this moron as soon as possible you should all refuse to attend any games and buy any Browns merchandise.
I am not a Browns fan, but I remember the Browns teams of the early 60’s with Jim Brown, Frank Ryan, Gary Collins, and Lou “The Toe” Groza and they were some fun teams to watch. They crushed the Colts in the 64 championship game, and lost to my Packers the next season in the championship game.
Your owner might be heading to jail, and that’s about the only good news you have. Hopefully, when that happens someone smarter than he is will run the team. You deserve better Browns fans, and you should make yourselves heard by staying away until they show you they are competent.

Ummm… Why would they lie about it when they could just suspend him for being drunk and save a games salary?
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Someone smarter than me (most of you) can comment (Google “Manziel /Drunk” comes up with way too many stories) but I think the theory is that he was already on double-secret probation for substance abuse and to report it could result in a multi-game suspension and kill any trade value. Better to put him in concussion protocol than to report the truth.

backing off the original claims proves that Silver may have a true story and adds to it to sensationalize it. Like getting caught for speed. If you get caught once, you’ve probably been doing a lot of times before that. Not just Silver, but all of the sleazy twitter hack media trying to be the first to “sensationalize” a story, not only just break a story.

Silver is just another one looking for drama and being over the top about it with the language he uses I order for sites like this to pick up his comments.

Hardly had to think that the Browns are calling. Didn’t bed to, as common sense and journalistic integrity should’ve been used if he was a proper journalist, as well as some background checking with the team.

He could’ve been drunk as hell. But, an independent Doctor put him in the concussion protocol. Not the Browns doctors, not the NFL’s Doctors. It’s on he, and he alone, if he said Manziel had a concussion, when he did not. But, I find it hard to believe, considering he hadn’t passed the concussion protocol until January 12. Silver is reporting a hear say story, and it blew up in his face.

One thing I think is certain. Any first year med student will recognize someone who has been drinking excessively. So, while the dual diagnosis has a small amount of possibility, it probably does not apply here. Not with his previous history. And, with his track record, he needs locked up under supervision for whatever time it takes t0 save his life. His Dad wasn’t kidding.

Everytime I see a new article about Manziel I sit back and thank God Dave Caldwell didn’t buy into the hype of Johnny Football and went with Blake Bortles.
Man for awhile before that draft I really wanted Manziel. Go Jags!…
Really! You wanted Manziel? When the Jags drafted Bortles right before the Browns, I enjoyed watching Farmer butt fumble in the 1st round. And to think the Browns could have traded up with plenty of draft picks in this past draft for Winston or Mariotta to right the ship. Now they will probably use the #2 pick to draft another QB that might not be the right one of the top 3 prospects that are expected to go in the 1st round. Wow, I say. Maybe Hue Jackson will get a chance to fix the Browns. I think they should trade for McCarron who has two years left on his contract. I think he’s better than Dalton and the Bengals got him in the 5th ROUND. But the Bengals have no stake in trading their backup QB and maybe future of the franchise.

Who cares? Drunk-Concussion? I wish they had concussion protocol when the Ravens played the Colts in prime time. Chris McCallister got a DUI the night before the game and Manning and Harrison torched him all night. He was cut the next day. McCallister was a pro bowl CB and Manziel is a bum. What’s taking the Browns so long?